Vehicle Door System Priority Driven Power Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door systems lack efficient and integrated mechanisms for smooth power operation, including door opening, closing, and protection, often resulting in interference with door seals and inadequate protection against external obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door system incorporating multiple electrically-powered actuators and a controller to manage the movement of the door, glass window, powered latch, door presenter, opening mechanism, and protective member, ensuring seamless transitions between closed, partially open, and fully open positions while deploying a protective member to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vehicle door system uses manual opening operations without integrated powered mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and smoothness of door opening/closing is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth power operation of doorVSAvoidintegrated powered mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate door functions (opening, closing, protection, latching) into a single integrated powered door system controlled by one controller. The controller receives a single door release request and coordinates actuation of the powered latch, powered door presenter, and powered door opening mechanism as a unified system, eliminating the need for separate manual operations for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated powered door system performs multiple functions through a single control interface. The controller manages door unlocking, opening, closing, and protection deployment through one door release request, making the system universal in handling various door operations without requiring separate controls for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the door opens directly to fully open position without intermediate positions, then the productivity is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to interference with seals and potential damage to obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening speedVSAvoidinterference with seals and damage to obstacles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The powered door presenter extends a push member before the door is fully opened to present the door at an intermediate position. This preliminary action positions the door partially open first, allowing the system to check for obstacles and prepare for the next phase of opening, thereby preventing direct interference with seals and external obstacles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The door opening operation is divided into multiple segments: first opening to an intermediate position using the powered door presenter, then checking for obstacles, and finally opening to the fully open position if clear. This segmentation allows the system to balance speed with safety by breaking the continuous motion into controlled phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the vehicle door system lacks a powered protective member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection against external obstacles is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against external obstaclesVSAvoidpowered protective member mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The powered door protector deploys a protective member in advance before the door is fully opened to intercept and stop external obstacles such as bicycles or pedestrians. This preliminary protective action prevents harmful factors from reaching the door, countering potential damage before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The protective member acts as an intermediary element between external obstacles and the door structure. It intercepts obstacles and transfers the force away from the door, protecting the main door structure from direct impact while allowing the protective member to absorb and redirect the harmful forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables smooth and safe operation of vehicle doors, reducing interference with seals and protecting against external obstacles, ensuring the widest possible opening and preventing door dings, dents, and potential hazards like bicycles or pedestrians.

Implementation Method 1

multiple electrically-powered actuators and a controller to manage the movement of the door, glass window, powered latch, door presenter, opening mechanism, and protective member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical actuation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10584526B2Priority driven power side door open/close operations

Publication Date: 2020.03.10 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle door system includes a frameless door glass system, a powered latch, electrically-powered door presenter, powered door opening mechanism, and a powered door protector including a protective member that is movably mounted to the door structure. A controller selectively actuates the frameless door glass system, powered latch, powered door presenter, powered door opening mechanism, and powered door protector according to predefined criteria to coordinate the powered door functions and provide seamless powered operation.